Mineral beneficiation key to job creation

Honourably honest: Madigele says Botswana is at cross roads
Honourably honest: Madigele says Botswana is at cross roads

The Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr Alfred Madigele has urged his government to urgently awaken to the immense potential of mineral beneficiation in the face of record high job losses bedeviling the economy, Staff Writer BABOKI KAYAWE reports

This week Madigele delivered a well thought out and impassionate response to the State of the Nation Address challenging government to look deeper into terms of copper, soda ash and coal as the mineral industry value chain remains unexploited.  Consequently, he said, endless employment opportunities as well as growth prospects, are buried in there.

He said extremely small copper components (nanoparticles or nanomaterial) are very invaluable in pesticides manufacturing. Madigele further said this could see double functions as both an employment creation and  improving the agricultural sector.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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